The EU member states agreed on 7 July 2008 on the Commission's proposal to reduce electrical appliance stand-by energy consumption.

All household and office equipment sold in Europe will be included in this measure. This provision of the European Union is the first legal act concerning products within the Eco-design Directive.

It is a substantial contribution to energy efficiency, climate protection and consumption cost reduction. Manufacturers declare that their products meet all valid European regulations by use of the CE symbol.

The BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing has contributed to developing the new ordinance since mid-2007. If the European Union parliament agrees, a compulsory maximum value of one watt will apply to off-mode or stand-by power consumption of devices from about 2010. Three years later the limiting value will be halved. Thus these energy losses should be reduced in the European Union by nearly 75 %, i.e. 35 terawatt hours per year by 2020. This saving corresponds to the 1.3-fold of German power generation from wind in 2005 or the annual electricity production of three modern nuclear power plants.

The EU Commission plans further ordinances to reduce the environmental impact by PCs, monitors, printers, scanners and copiers, television sets, freezers and deep freezers, dishwashers, washing machines and tumble dryers as well as water heaters and boilers. These devices offer great potential for energy saving, without limiting their function if this objective is considered at the design phase.

The Eco-design Directive is implemented by the Energy-using Products Act (Energie¬betriebene-Produkte-Gesetz, EBPG) into German law. The EBPG entered into force on 7 March 2008. In it, BAM is designated as the commissioned body and represents Germany, together with the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) as well as the Ministries of Economics and Environment, in the development of eco-design regulations vis-à-vis the European Union.

Preview:The international congress "Electronics Goes Green 2008" deals with topics in connection with the Eco-design Directive. Dr. Floris Akkerman, a BAM expert, will report on the first experience in Germany at the congress.

The congress is accompanied by a fair area. The Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology and BAM will operate a common exhibition stand. "Electronics Goes Green 2008" will take place in Berlin from 7 to 10 September 2008.

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